07.02.12
Over the past few years as the economy has dipped into recessionary levels and major markets have come close to the brink of collapse, consumers have had to make some major readjustments in their consumption habits. Indicators from NMI’s Health and Wellness Trends Database show the impact of these changes will not be temporary adjustments but a total realignment of consumer behavior based on a reevaluation of priorities. While the new economy has been a wake-up call, it has also fueled a realization that our consumption habits were less fulfilling than hoped, creating an empty feeling; a vacuum which begs to be filled. The bubble not only burst on the economy, but it burst on consumption where “possession” no longer delivers the emotional impact it once did. In fact, more than half of consumers feel they live a more satisfying life today by having fewer material possessions.
These factors have driven a rethinking of what constitutes real value. Consumers are becoming more discriminating regarding every detail of their purchase decisions. This desire for deeper value is giving rise to an emerging lifestyle where consumers are looking for a higher return on investment across every encounter, making the most of everything we have—including the investment of time, emotional reward, experience, and money. And marketers are beginning to weave multi-prismatic dimensions into their offerings to deliver an emotional appeal that simply buying the product itself does not provide. The desire for additional return on investment has driven attributes such as increased food functionality, cause marketing, fair trade ingredients and sustainable supply chain.
These factors have driven a rethinking of what constitutes real value. Consumers are becoming more discriminating regarding every detail of their purchase decisions. This desire for deeper value is giving rise to an emerging lifestyle where consumers are looking for a higher return on investment across every encounter, making the most of everything we have—including the investment of time, emotional reward, experience, and money. And marketers are beginning to weave multi-prismatic dimensions into their offerings to deliver an emotional appeal that simply buying the product itself does not provide. The desire for additional return on investment has driven attributes such as increased food functionality, cause marketing, fair trade ingredients and sustainable supply chain.